Billy Eckstine

William Clarence Eckstine (July 8, 1914 – March 8, 1993) was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. His recording of "I Apologize" (MGM, 1948) was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. The New York Times described him as an "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Lou Rawls."

Birth and Death Data: Born July 8, 1914 (Pittsburgh), Died March 8, 1993 (Pittsburgh)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-047057 10-in. 2/13/1940 My heart beats for you Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-051521 10-in. 6/19/1940 Wait 'till it happens to you Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, songwriter  
Victor BS-051523 10-in. 6/19/1940 Ann Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor PBS-055177 10-in. 12/2/1940 I'm falling for you Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor PBS-055180 10-in. 12/2/1940 Jelly, jelly Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter, vocalist  
Victor PBS-061543 10-in. 8/20/1941 Water boy Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-063331 10-in. 4/3/1941 Julia Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-068401 10-in. 11/17/1941 The jitney man Earl Hines Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-068403 10-in. 11/17/1941 You don't know what love is Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-070332 10-in. 10/28/1941 Somehow Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-070333 10-in. 10/28/1941 I got it bad and that ain't good Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine ; Madeline Green ; Three Varieties Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and mixed vocal ensemble vocalist  
Victor BS-073460 10-in. 3/19/1942 Skylark Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-073462 10-in. 3/19/1942 Stormy Monday blues Earl Hines Orchestra ; Billy Eckstine Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, songwriter  
Victor D7VB-2933 10-in. 12/22/1947 Cool breeze Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra ; Dizzy Gillespie ; Kenny Hagood Male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band songwriter  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Eckstine, Billy," accessed May 27, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106570.

Eckstine, Billy. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 27, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106570.

"Eckstine, Billy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 27 May 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106570

External Sources

Wikipedia: Billy Eckstine

Discogs: Billy Eckstine

Allmusic: Billy Eckstine

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Eckstine, Billy - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n92059679

Wikidata: Billy Eckstine - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q545464

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/5117429

MusicBrainz: Billy Eckstine - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/dc335fdb-9bc6-42ca-86a1-e652318764cc

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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